Neil Bathon is expanding his relationship management team, this time with a 12-year Cerulli Associates veteran. Watch for Bathon to hire again soon.

Bathon confirms that on June 10 Cindy Zarker joined FUSE Research Network as director of relationship development. Zarker previously served as director of the asset management practice for Cerulli.

MFWire could not immediately reach Kurt Cerulli, founder and CEO of his eponymous research shop, for comment on who is taking over his asset management practice.

Bathon, founder of FUSE, tells MFWire that he has known Zarker since she worked at Colonial (now part of Columbia Threadneedle). Bathon says he likes to hire people who, like Zarker, "have actually worked in a fund company."

"We've been after her for years ... She's really sharp," Bathon says. "She's a really good researcher. She knows as much about the business as any of us do."

Bathon also expects to bring on another new relationship director in the next 30 to 40 days.

"We're pretty far down the screening process," Bathon says.

The relationship management expansion, Bathon says, is to get his team back to supporting 10 to 12 clients each, down from closer to 20 clients each.

"We had gotten a little overextended," Bathon says. "I'm trying to do a better job of service and support delivery."

An alumnus of Skidmore, Zarker first joined Cerulli in 2003 after 13 years at what is now Columbia Threadneedle.&nbsp